Letter 1009: KING THEODERIC TO EUSTORGIUS, THE VENERABLE BISHOP OF MILAN.
King Theoderic to Eustorgius, the Venerable Bishop of Milan.
[1] The condition of subjects is secure when they live under the equity of their rulers. It is not fitting that a man be dragged along by uncertain rumor, he who ought to establish unchanging principles. We gather the truth of matters from reason, which is never hidden from those who seek it, if it is pursued by its proper steps.
[2] Therefore, what we are confident will be most welcome to Your Blessedness: we hereby inform you that the honorable man Adeodatus, whose petition you have graciously supported, shall receive the protection of our authority, so that neither in his person nor in his property shall he suffer any unjust treatment.
AI-assisted translation — This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
VIIII. EUSTORGIO VIRO VENERABILI MEDIOLANENSI EPISCOPO THEODERICUS REX.
[1] Tuta est condicio subiectorum, ubi vivitur sub aequitate regnantium: nec dubio decet rumore trahi, a quo debent non mutanda constitui. fidem siquidem rerum a ratione colligimus, quae numquam desiderantibus absconditur, si suis vestigiis perquiratur. [2] Atque ideo, quod beatitudini vestrae gratissimum esse confidimus, praesenti tenore declaramus Augustanae civitatis episcopum proditionis patriae falsis criminationibus accusatum: qui a vobis honori pristino restitutus ius habeat episcopatus omne quod habuit. nihil enim in tali honore temeraria cogitatione praesumendum est, ubi, si proposito creditor, etiam tacitus ab excessibus excusatur. manifesta proinde crimina in talibus vix capiunt fidem: quicquid autem ex invidia dicitur, veritas non putatur. [3] Volumus enim inpugnatores eius legitima poena percellere: sed quoniam et ipsi clericatus nomine fungebantur, ad sanctitatis vestrae iudicium cuncta transmisimus ordinanda, cuius est et probitatem moribus talibus imponere et districtionem ecclesiasticam custodire.
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